such Alliances To which the Speaker re-assuming the Chair and this being reported the House agreed and appointed the Committee And Adjourned over Asâ—…nsion day till Friday In the interim the Committee appointed met and drew the Address according to the above mentioned Order a true Coppy of which is here annexed May it please your Most excellent Majesty YOur Majesties most Loyal and Dutiful Subjects 〈◊〉 Commons in Parliament assembled have taken into their serious consideration your Majesties gracious Speech and do beseech your Majesty to believe it is a great affliction to them to find themselves obleiged at present to decline the granting your Majesty the supply your Majesty is pleased to demand conceiving it is not agreeable to the usage of Parliament to grant Supplyes for mainteance of Wars and Alliances before they are signified in Parliament which the too Wars against the States of the Vnited Provinces since your Majesties happy Restoration and the League made in January 1668 for preservation of the Spanish Nether Lands sufficiently proved without ling your Majesty with Instances of greater antiquity from which usage if we might depart the president might be of dangerous consequence in future times though your Majesties Goodnesse gives us great security during your Majesties Raign which we beseech God long to continue This Consideration prompted us in our last Addresse to your Majesty before our last Recesse humbly to mention to your Majesty our hopes that before our meeting again your Majesties Alliances might be so fixed as that your Majesty might begraciously pleased to impart them to us in Parliament that so our earnest desires of supplying your Majesty for prosecuting those great ends we had humbly laid before your Majesty might meet with no impediment or obstruction being highly sensible of the necessity of supporting as well as making the Alliances humbly desired in our former Addresses and which we still conceive so important to the safety of your Majesty and your Kingdomes That we cannot without unfaithfulnesse to your Majesty and those we Represent omit upon all occasions humbly to beseech your Majesty as we now do To enter into a League offensive and defensive vvith the States General of the United Provinces against the grovvth and povver of the French King and for the preservation of the Spanish Nether-Lands and to make such other Alliances vvith such other of the Confiderates as your Majesty shall think fit and usefull to that end in doing which That no time may be lost we humbly offer to his Majesty these Reasons for the expediting of it 1. That if the entering into such Alliances should draw on a War with the French King it would be lest detrimental to your Majesties Subjects at this time of the year they having now fewest effects within the Dominion of that King 2. That though we have great reason to believe the power of the French King to be dangerous to your Majesty and your 〈◊〉 when he shall be at more leisure to molest us yet we conceive the many Enemies he has to deal with at present together with the scituation of your Majesties Kingdoms the Unanimity of the People in the Cause the care your Majesty hath been pleased to take of your ordinary Guards of the Sea together with the Credit provided by the late Act for an additional Excise for three years make the entering into and declaring Alliances very safe until we may in a regular way give your Majesty such further Supplies as may enable your Majesty to support your Allyances and defend your kingdoms And because of the great danger and charge which must necessarily fall upon your Majesties kingdomes if through want of that timely encouragement and assistance which your Majesties joyning with the States General of the United Provinces and other the Confederates would give them The said States or any other considerable part of the Confederates should this next Winter or sooner make a Peace or Truce with the French King the prevention vvhereof must 〈◊〉 be acknovvledged a singular effect of Gods goodness to us which if it should happen your Majesty would be afterwards necessitated with fewer perhaps with no Alliances or Assistance to withstand the power of the French king which hath so long and so succesfully contended with so many and so potent Adversaries and whilest he continues his over-ballancing greatness must alwayes be dangerous to his Neighbours since he would be able to oppress any one Confederate before the rest could get together and be in so good a posture of offending him as they novv are being joyntly engaged in a War And if he should be so successful as to make a Peace or 〈◊〉 the present Confederation against him it is much to be feared whether 〈◊〉 would be possible ever to reunite it at least it would be work of so much time and difficulty as would leave your Majesties Kingdomes exposed to much misery and danger Having thus discharged our duty in laying before your Majesty the Dangers threatning your Majesty and your Kingdomes and the onely Remedyes we can think of for the preventing securing and queting the minds of your Majesties People with some few of those Reasons which have moved us to this and our former Addresses On these Subjects We most humbly beseech your Majesty to take the matter to your serious Consideration and to take such Resolutions as may not leave it in the power of any neighbouring Prince to rob your People of that happinesse which they enjoy under your Majesties gracious Governement beseeching your Majesty to â—…fident and assured that when your Majesty shall be 〈◊〉 to declare such Alliances in Parliament We shall hold our selves obliged not only by our promises and assurances given and now which great Unaninity revived in a full House but by the Zeal and desires of those whom we represent and by the Interests of all our safetyes most chearfully to give your Majesty from time to time such speedy Supplyes and Assistances as may fully and plentifully answer the Occasions and by Gods blessing preserve your Majesty Honour and the safty of the People All which is most humbly submitted to your Majesties great Wisdome Friday May 25th 1677 Sir John Trevor reported from the said Committee the Addresse as 't was drawn by them which was read Whereupon it was moved to agree with the Committee but before it was agreed to there was a debate and division of the House It was observed and objected that there was but one reson given herein for declining the granting money and that is the Unpresidentednesse and as to one of the Instances to this purpose mentioned Viz. the Kings first Dutch War it was said to be mistaken for that the 2500000 l. was voted before the War declared But it was answred that if the Declaration was not before the grant of the money which Quaere yet 't was certain that the War it self and great Hostilites were before the money and some said there might be other reasons
of France But a Fleet would protect our whole Ships are the defence of an Island and thereby we may hope to keep at a distance and not apprehend or prepare to meet him at our Dores he Learns by Sicily what it is to Invade an Island he is not like to attempt an Invasion of us till he hath some Masterie at Sea which is Impossible for him to have so long as he is diverted and imployed at Land in the Mediterranean and in the West Indies as he is And as to our Merchants Ships and Goods they are in no more danger now then they were in any War whensoever Nay there was more expectation of this then there was of the last VVar for the first notice we or the Dutch had of that Breach was the Attempt upon their Smyrna Fleet. Also it is observed that what was said a fortnight ago that the season was too far advanced to lay in Beâ—…f and it would stink was admitted to be a mistake for that now it was urged that a greater and better appointed Fleet must be furnished out but still it was insisted on that they were in the dark his Majesty did not speak out that he would make the desired Alliances against the growth of France and resolve with his Parliament to maintain them and so long as there was any coldness or reservedness of this kind they had no clear grounds to grant money for preparations His Majesty was a Prince of that Goodness and â—…are towards his People that none did distrust him but there was a distrust of some of his Ministers and a Jealousie that they were under French Influences and Complaints and Addresses had been made against them and upon the discourse of providing for the safety of the Nation it being said we might be secured by the Guarranty of the General Peace it was reflected on as a thing most pernitious to us and that our money and endeavours could not be worse applied than to procure that Peace Articles are not to be relied on All that they desired was that his Majesty and his People Unanimously Truly Sincerely and Throughly declare and engage in this business with a mutual confidence speaking out on both sides and this and nothing but this would discharge and extinguish all jealousies But it was Objected It was not convenient to discover his Majesties secret purposes in a Publick Assembly it might be too soon known abroad and there was no reason to distrust his Majesty but that being enabled he would prepare and do all things expedient for the Kingdom It was answered That it was usual for Forraine Ministers to get notice of the Councils of Princes as the Earl of Bristol Ambassador in Spain in the last part of King James's Reign procured Coppies and often the sight of the Originals of of Dispatches and Cabinet papers of the King of Spain But acknowledging that his Majesties Councels cannot be penetrated by the French yet the things would in a short time discover themselves besides they said they did not much desire secresy for let the King take a great Resolution and put himself at the Head of his Parliament and People in this weighty and worthy Cause of England and let a flying Post carry the news to Paris and let the French King do his worst His Majesty never had nor never will have cause to distrust his People In 1667 in confidence of our Aid he made a League without advice of Parliament commonly called the Tripple League which was for the Interest of England and whereby his Majesty became the Arbiter of Cristendom and in the Name and upon the Account of that the Parliament gave him several Supplies In 1672 He made War without the Advice of Parliament whith War the Parliament thought not for the Interest of England to continue yet even therein they would not leave him but gave him 1200000 l. to carry himself on out of it How much more are they concerned and obliged to supply and assist him in these Alliances and War if it ensue which are so much for the Interest of England and entered into by the pressing Advice of Parliament We hope his Majesty will declare himself in earnest and we are in earnest having his Majesties heart with us Let his hand Rot off that is not stretcht out for this Affair we will not stick at this or that sum or thing but we will go with his Majesty to all Extremities We are now affraid of the French King because he has great force and extraordinary thinking men about him which mannage his affaires to a wonder but we trust his Majesty will have his Business mannaged by thinking men that will be provident and careful of his Interest and not suffer him to pay Cent. per Cent. more than the things are worth that are taken up and used and if the work be entred upon in this manner we hope England will have English success with France as it is in Bowling if your Bowl be well set out you may think and it will go to the Mark. Were the thing clear and throughly undertaken there would be less reason to dispute of time there never was a Council but would sit on Sunday or any day for such Publick Work In fine they said the business must lye at one door or another and they would not for any thing that it should flat in their hands And although they should hope in an Exigence his Majesty would lend to his People who had given so much to him yet they said they could not leave him without providing him a sum of money as much as he could use between this and some convenient time after Easter when he might if he please command their full attendance by some publick Notification and this was the mentioned sum of 200000 l. The Expedient they provided for doing this was adding a Borrowing Clause to the Bill for almost 600000 l. such an one as was in the Poll Bill the Effect of which is to enable his Majesty presently to take up on the Credit of this Bill 200000 l. ready money at 7 l. per Cent. per annum Interest And this they said might now be done though the Bill were passed by them and also save that they had made the above mentioned amendment by the Lords for that Poll Bill was explained by another Act passed a few days after in the same session But in Hackvvells Modus tenendi Parli pag. 173 was a more remarkable President and exact in the Point But after some Discourse of setting loose part of this 600000 l. c. they reflected that this 600000 l. c. was appropriate for the building of Ships and they would not have this appropriation unhinged by any means and thereupon resolved to annex the borrowing Clause to the Bill for continuing the additional duty of Excise for three years which was not yet passed against which it was Objected That it was given for other purposes viz. to give the
had by that Treaty of Aix la Chapelle agreed to acquiess in their former Conquests in Flanders and that the English Svvede and Hollander were reciprocally bound to be aiding against whomsoever should disturbe that Regulation besides the League Offensive and Defensive which his Majesty had entered into with the States General of the United Provinces all which was by this Conjunction with France to be broken in pieces So that what is here declared if it were reconcileable to Truth yet could not consist with Possibility which two do seldom break company unless by one only Expedient that the English who by this new League with France were to be the Infractors and Aggressors of the Peace of Aix la Chapelle and with Holland should to fulfill their Obligations to both Parties have sheathed the Sword in our own Bowels But such was the Zeal of the Conspirators that it might easily transport them either to say what was untrue or undertake what was impossible for the French Service That King having seen the English thus engaged beyond a Retreat comes now into the War according to agreement But he was more Generous and Monarchal than to assign Cause true or false for his Actions He therefore on the 27th of March 1672 publishes a Declaration of War without any Reasons Only The ill satisfaction vvhich his Majesty hath of the Behaviour of the States General tovvards him being risen to that degree that he can no longer vvithout diminution to his Glory dissemble his Indignation against them c. Therefore he hath resolved to make War against them both by Sea and Land c. And commands all his Subjects Courir sus upon the Hollauders a Metaphor which out of respect to his own Nation might have been spared For such is our pleasure Was ever in any Age or Nation of the World the Sword drawn upon no better Allegation A stile so far from being Most Christian that nothing but some vain French Romance can parallel or justify the Expression How happy were it could we once arrive at the same pitch and how much credit and labour had been saved had the Compilers of our Declaration in stead of the mean English way of giving Reasons contented themselves with that of the Diminution of the English Honour as the French of his Glory But nevertheless by his Embassador to the Pope he gave afterwards a more clear account of his Conjunction with the English and that he had not undertaken this War against the Hollanders but for extirpating of Heresie To the Emperour That the Hollanders were a People who had forsaken God were Hereticks and that all good Christians were in duty bound to associate for their extiapation and ought to pray to God for a blessing upon so pious an enterprise And to other Popish Princes that it was a War of Religion and in order to the Propagation of the Catholick Faith And in the second Article of his Demands afterward from the Hollanders it is in express words contained That from thenceforvvard there shall be not only an intire Liberty but a Publick Exercise of the Catholick Apostolick Romane Religion throughout all the United Provinces So that vvheresoever there shall be more than one-Church another shall be given to the Catholicks That vvhere there is none they shall be permitted to build one and till that be finished to exercise their Divine Service publickly in such Houses as they shall buy or hire for that purpose That the States General or each Province in particular shall appoint a reasonable Salary for a Curate or Priest in each of the said Churches out of such Revenues as have formerly appertained to the Church or othervvise Which was conformable to what he published now abroad that he had entered into the War only for Gods Glory and that he would lay down Armes streightwayes would the Hollanders but restore the True Worship in their Dominions But he made indeed twelve Demands more and notwithstanding all this devotion the Article of Commerce and for revoking their Placaets against Wine Brandy and French manufactures was the first and tooke place of the Catholick Apostolick Romane Religion Whether all these were therefore onely words of course and to be held or let lose according to his occasions will better appeare when we shall have heard that he still insists upon the same at Nimegen and that although deprived of our assistance he will not yet agree with the Dutch but upon the termes of restoring the True Worship But whatever he were it is evident that the English were sincere and in good earnest in the Design of Popery both by that Declaration above mentioned of Indulgence to the Recusants and by the Negotiation of those of the English Plenipotentiaryes whom for their honour I name not that being in that year sent into Holland pressed that Article among the rest upon them as without which they could have no hope of Peace with England And the whole processe of affaires will manifest further that booth here and there it was all of a piece as to the project of Religion and the same threed ran throw the Web of the English and French Counsells no lesse in relation to that then unto Government Although the issuing of the French Kings declaration and the sending of our English Plenipotentiaries into Holland be involved together in this last period yet the difference of time was so small that the anticipation is inconsiderable For having declared the VVarre but on the 27th of March 1672. He struck so home and followed his blow so close that by July following it seemed that Holland could no longer stand him but that the swiftnesse and force of his motion was something supernatural And it was thought necessary to send over those Plenipotentiaries if not for Interest yet at least for Curiosity But it is easier to find the Markes than Reasons of some mens Actions and he that does only know what happened before and what after might perhaps wrong them by searching for further Intelligence So it was that the English and French Navies being joyned were upon the Tvventieighth of May One thousand six hundred seventy tvvo Attaqued in Soule Bay by De Ruyter with too great advantage For while his Royal Highness then Admiral did all that could be expected but Monsieur d' Estree that commanded the French did all that he was sent for Our English Vice-Admiral Mountague was sacrificed and the rest of our Fleet so mangled that there was no occasion to boast of Victory So that being here still on the losing hand 't was fit some body should look to the Betts on the other side of the Water least that Great and Lucky Gamster when he had won all there and stood no longer in need of the Conspirators should pay them with a Quarrel for his Mony and their ill Fortune Yet were they not conscious to themselves of having given him by any Behaviour of theirs any cause of Dissatisfaction but that they had
dealt with him in all things most frankly That notwithstanding all the Expressions in my Lord Keeper Bridgmans Speech of the Treaty betvveen France and his Majesty concerning Commerce vvherein his Majesty vvill have a singular regard to the Honour and also to the Trade of this Nation and notwithstanding the intollerable oppressions upon the English Traffick in France ever since the Kings Restauration they had not in all that time made one step towards a Treaty of Commerce or Navigation with him no not even now when the English were so necessary to him that he could not have begun this War without them and might probably therefore in this conjuncture have condescended to some equality But they knew how tender that King was on that point and to preserve and encrease the Trade of his Subjects and that it was by the Diminution of that Beam of his Glory that the Hollanders had raised his Indignation The Conspirators had therefore the more to gratify him made it their constant Maxime to burden the English Merchant here with one hand while the French should load them no less with the other in his Teritories which was a parity of Trade indeed though something an extravagant one but the best that could be hoped from the prudence and integrity of our States-men insomuch that when the Merchants have at any time come down from London to represent their grievances from the French to seek redress or offer their humble adviâ—…e they were Hector'd Brow-beaten Ridiculed and might have found fairer audience even from Monsieur Colbert They knew moreover that as in the matter of Commerce so they had more obliged him in this War That except the irresistable bounties of so great a Prince in their own particular and a frugal Subsistance-money for the Fleet they had put him to no charges but the English Navy Royal serv'd him like so many Privateers No Purchase No Pay That in all things they had acted with him upon the most abstracted Principles of Generosity They had tyed him to no terms had demanded no Partition of Conquests had made no humane Condition but had sold all to him for those two Pearls of price the True Worship and the True Government Which disinteressed proceeding of theirs though suited to Forraine Magnanimity yet should we still lose at Sea as we had hitherto and the French Conquer all at Land as it was in prospect might at one time or other breed some difficulty in answering for it to the King and Kingdom However this were it had so hapned before the arrival of the Plenipotentiaries that whereas here in England all that brought applycations from Holland were treated as Spies and Enemies till the French King should signify his pleasure he on the contrary without any communication here had received Addresses from the Dutch Plenipotentiaries and given in to them the sum of his Demands not once mentioning his Majesty or his Interest which indeed he could not have done unless for mockery having demanded all for himself so that there was no place left to have made the English any satisfaction and the French Ministers therefore did very candidly acquaint those of Holland that upon their accepting those Articles there should be a firm Peace and Amity restored But as for England the States their Masters might use their discretion for that France was not obliged by any Treaty to procure their advantage This manner of dealing might probably have animated as it did warrant the English Plenipotentiaries had they been as full of Resolution as of Power to have closed with the Dutch who out of aversion to the French and their intollerable demands were ready to have thrown themselves into his Majesties Armes or at his Feet upon any reasonable conditions But it wrought clean otherwise For those of the English Plenipotentiaries who were it seems intrusted with a fuller Authority and the deeper Secret gave in also the English Demands to the Hollanders consisting in eight Articles but at last the Ninth saith Although his Majesty contents himself vvith the foregoing Conditions so that they be accepted vvithin ten dayes after vvhich his Majesty understands himself to be no further obliged by them He declares nevertheless precisely that albeit they should all of them be granted by the said States yet they shall be of no force nor vvill his Majesty maâ—…e any Treaty of Peace or Truce unless the Most Christian King shall have received satisfastion from the said States in his particular And by this means they made it impossible for the Dutch however desirous to comply with England excluded us from more advantagious terms than we could at any other time hope for and deprived us of an honest and honourable evasion out of so pernicious a War and from a more dangerous Alliance So that now it appeared by what was done that the Conspirtors securing their own fears at the price of the Publick Interest and Safety had bound us up more strait then ever by a new Treaty to the French Project The rest of this year passed with great successe to the French but none to the English And therefore the hopes upon which the War was begun of the Smyrna and Spanish Fleet and Dutch Prizes being vanished the slender Allowance from the French not sufficing to defray it and the ordinary Revenue of the King with all the former Aides being as was fit to be believed in lesse then one years time exhausted The Parliament by the Conspirators good leave was admitted again to sit at the day appointed the 4th of February 1672. The Warr was then first communicated to them and the Causes the Necessity the Danger so well Painted out that the Dutch abusive Historical Pictures and False Medalls which were not forgot to be mentioned could not be better imitated or revenged Onely there was one great omission of their False Pillars which upheld the whole Fabrick of the England Declarations Upon this signification the House of Commons who had never failed the Crown hitherto upon any occosion of mutual gratuity did now also though in a Warre contrary to former usuage begun without their Advice readily Vote no less a summe than 1250000 l. But for better Colour and least they should own in words what they did in effect they would not say it was for the Warre but for the Kings Extraordinary Occasions And because the Nation began now to be aware of the more true Causes for which the Warre had been undertaken they prepared an Act before the Money-Bill slipt thorrow their Fingers by which the Papists were obliged to pass thorow a new State Purgatory to be capable of any Publick Imployment whereby the House of Commons who seem to have all the Great Offices of the Kingdom in Reversion could not but expect some Wind-falls Upon this Occasion it was that the Earl of Shaftsbury though then Lord Chancellour of England yet Engaged so far in Defence of that ACT and of the PROTESTANT RELIGION that in due
mutinous and revolt to the Country till some better occasion offer Among these are somemen of the best understanding were they of equal integrity who affect to ingrosse all businesse to be able to quash any good motion by Parliamentary skill unlesse themselves be the Authors and to be the leading men of the House and for their naturall Lives to Continue so But these are men that have been once fooled most of them and discovered and slighted at Court so that till some turn of State shall set them in their Adversaryes Place in the mean time they look Sullen make big Motions and contrive specious Bills for the Subject yet onely wait the opportunity to be the Instruments of the same Counsells which they oppose in others There is a Third Part still remaining but as contrary in themselves as Light and Darknesse Those are either the worst or the best of Men The first are most profligate persons that have neither Estates Consciences nor good Manners yet are therefore picked out as the necessary men and whose Votes will go furthest The charges of their Elections are defraied whatever they amount to Tables are kept for them at White Hall and through Westminster that they may be ready at hand within Call of a Question All of them are received into Pension and know their Pay-day which they never faile of Insomuch that a great Officer was pleased to say That they came about him like so many Jack davvs for Cheese at the end of every Session If they be not in Parliament they must be in Prison and as they are Protected themselves by Priviledge so they sell their Protections to others to the obstrnction so many years together of the Law of the Land and the publick Justice For these it is that the long and frequent Adjournments are calculated but all whether the Court or the Monopolizers of the Country Party or these that profane the title of Old Cavaliers do equally though upon differing reasons like Death apprehend a Dissolution But notwithstanding these there is an hanfull of Salt a sparkle of Soul that hath hitherto preserved this grosse Body from Putrefaction some Gentlemen that are constant invariable indeed English men such as are above hopes or fears or dissimulation that can neither flatter nor betray their King or Country But being conscious of their own Loyalty and Integrity proceed throw good and bad report to acquit themselves in their Duty to God their Prince and their Nation Although so small a Scantling in number that men can scarse reckon of them more then a Quorum Insomuch that it is lesse difficult to conceive how Fire was first brought to light in the World then how any good thing could ever be produced out of an House of Commons so constituted unlesse as that is imagined to have come from the rushing of Trees or batterring of Rocks together by accident so these by their clashing with one another have struck out an usefull effect from so unlikely causes But whatsoever casuall good hath been wrought at any time by the assimilation of ambitious factious and disappointed Members to the little but solid and unbyassed Party the more frequent ill effects and consequences of so unequall a mixture so long continued are demonstrable and apparent For while scarse any man comes thither with respect to the publick service but in design to make and raiso his fortune it is not to be exprest the Debauchery and Lewdnesse which upon occasion of Election to Parliaments are now grown habitual thorow the Nation So that the Vice and the Expence are risen to such a prodigious height that few sober men can indure to stand to be chosen on such conditious From whence also arise Feuids and perpetuall Animosityes over most of the Countyes and Corporations while Gentlemen of Worth Spirit and ancient Estates and Dependances see themselves overpowered in their own neighbourhood by the Drunknesse and Bribery of their Competitors But if neverthelesse any worthy person chance to carry the Election some mercenary or corrupt Sheriffe makes a double Return and so the Cause is handed to the Committee of Elections who aske no better but are ready to adopt his Adversary into the House if he be not Legitimate And if the Gentleman agrieved seek his Remedy against the Sheriffe in Westminster-Hall and the proofes be so palpable that the Kings Bench cannot invent how to do him injustice yet the major part of the twelve Judges shall upon better consideration vacate the Sheriffs Fine and reverse the Judgement but those of them that dare dissent from their Brethren are in danger to be turned off the Bench without any cause assigned While men therefore care not thus how they get into the House of Commons neither can it be expected that they should make any conscience of what they do there but they are onely intent how to reimburse themselves if their Elections were at their own charge or how to bargine their Votes for a Place or a Pension They list themselves streightways into some Court faction and it is as well known among them to what Lord each of them retaine as when formerly they wore Coates and Badges By this long haunting so together they are grown too so familiar among themselves that all reverence of their own Assembly is lost that they live together not like Parliament men but like so many Good felows met together in a Publick House to make merry And which is yet worse by being so throughly acquainted they understand their Number and Party so that the use of so publick a Counsel is frustrated there is no place for deliberation no perswading by reason but they can see one anothers Votes through both Throats and Cravats before they hear them Where the Cards are so well known they are only fit for a Cheat and no fair Gamster but would throw them under the Table Hereby it is that their House hath lost all the antient weight and authority and being conscious of their own guilt and weakness dare not adventure as heretofore the Impeaching of any man before the Lords for the most hainous Crimes of State and the most Publick Misdemeanours upon which confidence it is that the Conspirators have so long presumed and gone unpunished For although the Conspirators have sometimes that this House might appear still necessary to the People and to make the money more glib yeelded that even their own Names should be tossed among them and Grievances be talked of yet at the same time they have been so prevalent as to hinder any Effect and if the House has Emancipated itself beyond Instructions then by Chastizing them with Prorogations frighting them with Dissolution comforting them with long frequent and seasonable Adjournments now by suspending or diminishing their pensions then again by increasing them sometimes by a scorn and otherwhiles by a favour there hath a way been found to reduce them again under discipline All these things and more being considered and how
Assigned against giving money before the Alliances but they rather desired to spare them onely in general said t was not resonable to grant money before there was a Change they 〈◊〉 not say of Counsellors but of Counsells and an harâ—…â—…dertaking these Alliances would be the best demonstration of that Change For the swerving from this Interest and part was the step by which we went awry and the returning thereto would restore us to our right place and way And a Gentleman produced and read the Kings Speech made Monday the 10th of February 1667. wherein he speak chiefly of the League which afterwards when the Svvede came into it was called the Tripple League My Lords and Gentlemen I Am glad to see you hear again to tell you what I have done in this Intervall which I am consident you will be pleased with since it is so much to the Honour and security of the Nation I have made a League Offensive and Defensive with the States of the United Provinces and likewise a League for an efficacious mediation of Peace between the two Crowns into which League that of Svveden by its Ambassador hath offered to enter as a principal I did not at our last Meeting move you for any Aid though I lye under great Debts contracted by the last War but now the posture of our Neighbours abroad and the consequence of this new Alliance will oblige me for our security to set out a considerable fleet to Sea this Summer and besides I must build more great Ships and t is as necessary that I do something in order to the fortifying some of our Ports I have begun my self in order to these ends but if I have not your speedy assistance I shall not be able to go thorow with it wherefore I do earnestly desire you to take it into your speedy consideration c. Which shews the proper course and practice That Kings first communicate their Alliances made before they demand Supplies upon the account of them So the Exception was let fall But the grand Objection mannaged against it was upon the main point of the Address wherein they desired his Majesty to make a League Offensive and Defensive with the Dutch and such other Alliances with the rest as he should think sit Those who were against this particular or particularizeing in the Address spoke to this effect This is an Invasion upon his Majesties Prerogative of making Peace War and Leagues and it is the worse for the Distinction that is used in respect of the Dutch and the rest by which you giving him express directions as to the Dutch and referring to his discretion as to the others it looks and gives an Umbrage as if what he was to do was by your leave The Antient Land-mark the Boundaries between King and People must not be removed This power is one of the few things reserved entirely to the Crown Parliaments are summoned to treat de Arduis but He de quibusdam Arduis this is unpresidented The Marriages of the Royal Family is such a peculiar thing reserved to the King and the matter of the Lady Arrabella is an Instance Queen Elizabeth resented it high that the Parliament should propound her marrying and she said that however it is well they did not name the person if they had named the person it had been intolerable now here you name the person whom you would have the King Ally If you may go so far you may come to draw a Treaty and propose to the King to sign it By this you would put a great Indecorum upon the King he is now concerned as a Mediator at Nimmegen and it would be an indecent thing for him at the same time to declare himself a party It is believed the House of Austria though they sent full powers to Nimmegen for the purpose yet never intended to conclude a Peace But it was an absurd thing for them to declare so in Publick There must be publick decorum This is the way for the King to have the worse bargain with the Confederates for they observing how he is importuned and as it were driven to make these Alliances will slacken and lessen those advantagious offers which other wise they would be forced to make And again and again they said his Majesty did agree with this House in the End and they did not doubt but he would prosecute it by the same means as was desired But his Prerogative was not to be incroacht upon This manner of proceeding would never obtain with the King nay it would make the Address miscarry with the King On the other Side several spoke to this effect We ought to consider we are upon the Question of agreeing an Address drawn by our Committee by our Order If they have not in matter and manner corresponded with our direction or intention we have cause to disagree But here the Exception taken and cause pressed why we should not agree with them is because they have observed the very words and substance of our Order which exactly justifieth this Draught This passed on Wednesday upon a full Debate in a very full House two only contradicting but not one speaking or thinking the Kings Prerogative was toucht and therefore its strange it should be made the great Objection and Question of this day But the Prerogative is not at all intrencâ—…d upon we do not nor do pretend to Treat or make Alliances we only offer our advice about them and leave it with the King he may do as he pleaseth either make or not make them It is no more than other persons may do to the King or doubtless the Privy Council may Advise him in this particular and why not his Great Council This rate of discourse would make the Kings Prerogative consist meerly in not being advised by his Parliament of all People There are manifold Presidents of such Advices Leagues have been made by Advice of Parliament and have been ratified in Parliament In Edvv. 3. Râ—…ch 2. and especially in Henry the Fifths time and particularly with 〈◊〉 the Emperour and king of the Romans and Henry the fifth was a Magnanimous Prince and not to be â—…mposed upon 18. Jac. The Parliament Advised the King about making and mannaging a War Rushvv Coll. 36 41 42 45 46. And we may well remember our own advising the first Dutch War and making Leagues is less than War But if there was no President in this particular Case it was no Objection for matter of Advice is not to be circumsâ—…ribed by President If there be a 〈◊〉 case that a Prince should joyn in a War together with another Prince when that Prince was too potent before and that when this was discerned and a Peace made yet Succors should continually go out of the first Princes Dominions to the service of the other Prince and that notwithstanding several Addresses and advices to the contrary T is true as Objected that the Commons have sometimes declined advising in the
matter of War c. proposed to them But that shews not their want of right to meddle therewith but rather the contrary The very truth is it has been the desire and endeavour of kings in all Ages to engage their Parliaments in advising War c. That so they might be obliged to supply the King to the utmost for and through it but they out of a prudent caution have some times waved the matter lest they should engage further or deeper than they were aware or willing Since his Majesty is treating as Mediator at Nimmegen about the general Peace it is a great reason why he should specifiâ—… the Alliances desired as we have done that we might make it known we are far from desiring such Alliances as might be made by and with a general Peace but on the contrary coveting such as might prevent and secure us against that dangerous and formidable Peace Doubtless the Confederates will offer honourable and worthy Terms Their necessity is too great to boggle or take advantages nor will they think this League the less worth because we advise it but rather value it the more because it is done unanimously by the King with the Advise and applause of his People in Parliament We cannot suppose that our proceeding thus to his Majesty will pejudice our Address or endanger its miscarriage since it is for his Majesties advantage in that it obliges us to supply him to all degrees through this Affaire and the more particular it is the more still for the Kings advantage for if it had been more general and the King thereupon had made Alliances whatever they were men might have thought and said they were not the Alliances intended and it might be used as an excuse or reason for their not giving money to supply his Majesty hereafter but this as it is now doth most expresly strictly and particularly bind us up We reflect that a great deal of time and precious time has been spent since and in our Addresse on this Subject and finding no effectual fruit especially of our last Addresse we have cause to apprehend we are not clearly understood in what we mean Now it is the ordinary way of pursuing discourse in such Case and it is Proper and naturall for us to speak out more explicitely and particularly and tell 〈◊〉 Majesty That what we have meant is a League offensive and defensive And to perswad us again to Addresse on in more general Terms as before is to perswade us that as we have done nothing this ten weeks so we should do nothing still And said his Majesty in his late Message and last Speech has been pleased to demand 600000 l. for answering the purpose of our Addresses and assures us that the money shall not be imployed to other uses than we would have it imployed it is most seasonable for us to declare plainly the use and purpose we intend that so it may be concerted and clearly understood of all hands and therefore it is well done to mention to his Majesty these express Alliances we thinking no other Alliances worth the said Sum and we withal promising and undertaking that his Majesty shall have this and and more for these ends Nor have we any cause to apprehend that his Majesty will take amisse our advising Leagues in this manner We have presented more than one Addresse for Alliances against the growth and power of the French King and his Majesty has received admitted and answered them without any exception and if we may Addresse for Alliances against a particular Prince or state Why not for Alliances with a particular Prince or state It cannot be lesse regular or Parliamentary then the former And moreover though we know that punctuall presidents are on our side besides our Commissions by our Writts to treat de arduis urgentibus Regem Statum Defensionem Regâ—… 〈◊〉 Anglicanae concernentibus And besides the Kings General intimations in his Printed Speech yet if it â—…e said to be a decent and proper thing to have his Majestys 〈◊〉 and consent before we proceed on such a matter in such a manner as we now do we say that that in effect is with us too for consider all our former Addresses and his Majestyes Answers and Messages thereupon and it will appear that his Majesty has engaged and encouraged us to upon this Subject and that which he expects and would have is not to limit or check our advise but to open and enâ—… our 〈◊〉 His Majesty appears content to be throughly advised provided he be proportionably furnished and enabled with money which we being now ready to do we clearly and conclusively present him our advice for the application of it To prevent those mistakes and distrusts vvhich his Majesty sayes he findes some are so ready to make as if he had called us together only to get money from us for other uses then vve vvould have it imployed And truly the advising these Allyances together with assuring his Majesty thereupon to assist and supply him presently and plentifully to prosecute the same is our only way of complying and corresponding with his last speech For those Leagues followed and supported by these Supplyes are the only means and methodes to put his Majestie in the best condition both to defend his Subjects and offend his Enemies and so there will be no sault in his Majesty nor Us but His and Our security vvill sufficiently provide for Besides it will be worse it will be a very bad thing indeed not to make the Addresse for this particular League now since we have resolved it already Our intention being to have the Dutch c. comforted encouraged and assured we did order this on Wednesday and there is publick notice taken of it abroad and beyond Sea If we should now up-upon solemn debate set the same aside it would beget a great doubt discomfort and discouragment to them It is one thing never to have ordered it another to retract it Also it was said that this was necessary but was not all that was necessary for suppose which was not credible that France should be prevailed with to deliver up all Lorraine Flanders Alsatia and other Conquered places Are we safe No He has too many hands too much Money and this money is in great measure a Million Sterling yearly at least supplyed him from hence We must depress him by force as far as may be but further we must have Leagues and Laws to impoverish him We must destroy the French Trade This would quiet and secure us this would make our Lands rise and this would enable us to set the king at ease After this long debate the House came to the Question Whether this particular of a League Offensive and Defensive vvith the Dutch should be left out of the Address upon which Question the House divided Yeas 142 Noes 182. So that it was carried by Forty that it should stand Then the main Question was